Birmingham FIDE Congress

The Birmingham FIDE Congress is coming to Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School on Saturday 20 February, running through to Sunday 21 February. It's a FIDE-rated chess event, which means the games count towards your official international rating, so it's a proper competitive weekend rather than a casual club meet.

If you're not familiar with how a FIDE Congress works, the 'Congress' part is the key. It's a Swiss system tournament, so you're paired against people with a similar score to you in each round. You don't get knocked out if you lose, and you don't have to wait for a specific bracket to open up; you'll play a full slate of games over the two days regardless of how your results go. Because it's FIDE-rated, it's open to players of all levels, from those just starting to get their rating to the more seasoned club players who've been playing for years.

The venue is Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School on Victoria Road in Birmingham, West Midlands B27. It's a school hall setting, so expect the usual chess atmosphere: rows of boards, a fair bit of quiet concentration, and the clock ticking down on every table. It's a two-day affair, and since it's a weekend event, you'll be playing across both Saturday and Sunday.

It kicks off at 9:30 am on Saturday 20 February and wraps up by 5:00 pm on Sunday 21 February. That's a good stretch of chess over the weekend, so if you're planning to play, make sure you've got your opening prep sorted and your game face on. If you've been looking for a rated event in the city, this is the one to keep on your radar.